Geography of Palau
 Map of Palau | |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 7°30′N 134°30′E / 7.500°N 134.500°E |
| Adjacent to | Pacific Ocean |
| Area | 459 km2 (177 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 1,519 km (943.9 mi) |
| Administration | |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
The Republic of Palau consists of eight principal islands and more than 250 smaller ones lying roughly 500 miles southeast of the Philippines, in Oceania. The islands of Palau constitute the westernmost part of the Caroline Islands chain. The country includes the World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands.[1]
Statistics
The area of Palau is slightly more than 2.5 times the size of the US city of Washington, DC.[1]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
3 nautical miles
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 meters (794 ft) (on Babeldaob)
Land use:
arable land:
2.17%
permanent crops:
4.35%
other:
93.48% (2011)
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
[1]
Terrain varies geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babeldaob to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs. Natural resources consist of forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, and deep-seabed minerals. Current environmental issues include inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing.[1]
Climate
Climate is tropical; hot and humid. The country has a Köppen Climate Classification of Af (Tropical Rainforest Climate).[2] The wet season lasts from May to November and typhoons can occur from June to December.
Extreme points
This is a list of the extreme points of Palau, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.
- Northernmost point – Ngaruangel Reef, Kayangel state*
- Easternmost point – Kayangel islet, Kayangel state
- Southernmost point – Round Rock, Helen Reef, Hatohobei state
- Westernmost point - Tobi Island, Hatohobei state
- *Note: if submerged reefs are included then Velasco reef is Palau's northern-most point
External links
References
- ^ a b c d "Australia - Oceania :: Palau — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- ^ "Koror, Palau Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
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This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.